The recent trade of Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans to the coveted role of captain for Mumbai Indians has ignited curiosity among fans about who will step into the significant void left by the departure of Rohit Sharma. Sharma, a key figure who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, has now transitioned to a player role, leading to emotional reactions among fans.

Pandya faces the daunting task of not only emulating Sharma’s leadership success but also ensuring he stays fit and available for all matches during IPL 2024. The upcoming player auction in Dubai on Tuesday will add another layer of intrigue, especially regarding who the Titans will select to replace Pandya.

Among the ten franchises participating, the Titans boast the largest purse at ₹38.15 crore, providing ample resources to fill eight vacant slots, including two for overseas players. On the opposite end, Lucknow Super Giants hold the least salary cap at ₹13.15 crore, needing to fill six vacancies, including two for foreign players.

The possibility of this auction breaking previous records looms large, with the potential for a player surpassing Sam Curran’s ₹18.50 crore bid earlier this year. Titans, Sunrisers Hyderabad (₹34.00 crore), Kolkata Knight Riders (₹32.70 crore), Chennai Super Kings (₹31.40 crore), Punjab Kings (₹29.10 crore), and Delhi Capitals (₹28.95 crore) are the franchises capable of such a move.

Abhinav Mukund, former India opening batsman and cricket expert with JioCinema, emphasized the challenge of buying back released players due to auction dynamics. He noted the need for teams like Royal Challengers Bangalore to rebuild their entire bowling attack.

The auction’s focus will shift to star players, including Australia’s fast bowling trio—Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins. Additionally, England’s Harry Brook and New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, who impressed in the recent ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, will attract attention.

With Pandya’s departure, the Titans may target New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell or Rachin Ravindra as potential replacements. The team’s focus on an overseas spinner might lead them to Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga or Australia’s Adam Zampa.

Sunrisers Hyderabad, with the second-highest salary cap at ₹34 crore, is expected to bid strongly for England’s Adil Rashid, Australia’s Travis Head, and West Indies’ left-arm spinner, as they were released by the franchise with the intention of acquiring them back in the auction.

Kolkata Knight Riders, under the mentorship of Gautam Gambhir, face the task of filling 12 slots, including four for overseas players. They may target Sri Lanka’s Dilshan Madhushanka and India’s KS Bharat, released by the Titans.

Chennai Super Kings aim to replace all-rounder Ben Stokes and batsman Ambati Rayudu, with potential targets including Mumbai batsman Sarfaraz Khan and Afghanistan’s Azmatullah Omarzai.

Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals have substantial salary caps to fill eight and nine slots, respectively. Punjab Kings may seek to acquire Josh Inglis and Rassie van der Dussen, while Delhi Capitals could target a young Indian wicketkeeper and all-rounder Shah Rukh Khan.

Royal Challengers Bangalore, with a purse of ₹23.25 crore, faces critical decisions after releasing key players like Hasaranga and Hazlewood. Their strategy may involve reacquiring released players or targeting capped Indian all-rounder Harshal Patel.

Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants, with available salary caps below ₹18 crore each, will focus on securing key positions such as fast bowling options, spinning all-rounders, and quality pace bowlers, respectively.

The IPL auction promises to be a riveting event, setting the stage for teams to strengthen their squads ahead of the highly anticipated IPL 2024 season.